The Elements of Virginia’s Early Childhood Care and Education System

The early childhood system is a structured support network and services designed to meet the developmental, educational, and social needs of young children. This system includes various components that work together to ensure that children have a strong foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.

On July 1, 2021, the Virginia Board of Education became responsible for setting policy priorities for early childhood care and accountability, to be carried out by the VDOE. This creates a single point of accountability for school readiness in the Commonwealth. Key actions in Virginia beginning in 2021:

• Move oversight for all early childhood care and education programs to the VDOE,

• Establish a new Early Childhood Advisory Committee, and

• Create a Uniform Measurement and Improvement System.

A Skilled Early Care Workforce

Early childhood educators—largely women and often women of color—nurture and facilitate learning for millions of young children every day. Despite their important work, complex skills, and considerable experience, early educators’ working conditions currently undermine their well-being and create devastating financial insecurity well into retirement age. In turn, these conditions lead to high turnover rates and teacher staffing shortages, which limit the availability of care for families.  

Workforce Innovation

How early educators are treated affects how our children learn. Ensuring educators’ working conditions and well-being enables them to thrive as teachers and caregivers during the most important years of a child’s life.

National Data

• Key Findings – Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 – CSCCE

• Policy Recommendations – Early Childhood Workforce Index 2024 – CSCCE

• Helping the Early Care and Education Workforce Thrive
  

Virginia Data

• Family Day Home Providers

• Child Care Teachers

• Head Start Teachers

• School-Based Teachers

• Interactive Data Dashboard for VA’s Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce Survey

Funding

The underinvestment in early childhood programs in the United States has profound consequences for the development of children, particularly those from birth to age five. The challenge is exacerbated by the complexity of the early childhood development system. Multiple stakeholders are involved, from local, state, and federal governments to private organizations and nonprofit groups. This fragmented system can make it difficult to coordinate efforts and direct resources effectively to the communities and children who need them most. 

Policymakers, community organizations, and advocacy groups must work together to develop a more robust system of early childhood education, one that not only invests in early learning but also ensures equitable access to quality care and education for all children.

Federal

State

Philanthropy

Business Leaders